Category Archives: Cruises

Cruise Master has successfully hosted the Middle East’s first-ever Polar Expedition Forum, setting a milestone for the region’s luxury adventure travel sector. The exclusive trade event, held at Shangri-La Dubai, brought together leading global expedition cruise brands and top Middle Eastern travel advisors. Designed as an industry-first platform, the forum highlighted the growing demand for polar exploration and its emergence as one of the fastest-expanding segments in luxury travel. The programme featured immersive product presentations, strategic networking sessions, and one-on-one business meetings, giving advisors the tools to better sell and promote polar voyages. Expedition brands including 66° Expeditions, Albatros Expeditions (soon to rebrand as Polar Latitude Expeditions), Celebrity Cruises, Oceanwide Expeditions, Silversea, and Swan Hellenic showcased their latest ships, itineraries, and sales strategies for the regional market. Ashok Kumar, Founder and Managing Director of Cruise Master, said: “Travellers today are seeking transformative journeys. Polar expeditions are not just about reaching remote destinations — they are about discovery, sustainability, and unforgettable memories.” An engaging panel, “Charting New Waters: Your Gateway to the Polar Expedition Market”, explored shifting traveller demographics and the unparalleled experiences awaiting in the Arctic and Antarctic.

MSC Cruises announced the return of its award-winning ship, MSC Euribia, to Dubai for the winter 2025-26 season. From 8 November  2025, to  1 April 2026, the ship will offer guests immersive itineraries across the GCC, combining modern cruising with cultural discovery. Sailing roundtrip from Dubai, MSC Euribia will visit top regional destinations including Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, Doha, Manama, and Muscat. Guests can select from three- and four-night mini cruises or seven-night Arabian Gulf voyages, allowing flexible experiences to explore the Gulf at their own pace. Onboard, MSC Euribia features the MSC Yacht Club, an all-inclusive luxury “ship within a ship,” offering private suites, 24-hour butler service, an exclusive lounge and restaurant, and a private pool and sun deck. Guests also enjoy 10 dining venues, 21 bars and lounges, five pools, and the Ocean Cay AquaPark. Families benefit from a 700 sqm dedicated kids’ area, while the Delphi Theatre hosts nightly live entertainment. Angelo Capurro, Executive Director of MSC Cruises, said: “The MSC Yacht Club is loved by guests for its outstanding service and exclusive facilities. Bringing it to the Gulf ensures an unparalleled luxury cruising experience.” Bookings for MSC Euribia’s Dubai season are now open. For details, visit the MSC Cruises website.

MSC Cruises will be repositioning MSC Euribia for Winter 2025/2026 season and MSC World Europa for Winter 2026/2027, to homeport in Dubai. MSC Cruises seven-night Gulf itinerary offers a rich tapestry of experiences across iconic ports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and Doha, Qatar.  A highlight of the Gulf itinerary is access to Sir Bani Yas Island. Guests can relax on MSC Cruises’ private beach with full-service catering, or explore the island’s Arabian Wildlife Park on a guided safari, a one-of-a-kind experience managed in partnership with local organisations.

As part of its preparations for the 2025/2026 cruise season, which is scheduled to kick off this November in Doha, Qatar Tourism, in cooperation with the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau, organized a strategic workshop aimed at highlighting the cruise ship passengers and discussing the most prominent projects and initiatives related to the development of the cruise tourism sector in Qatar. The workshop sought to discuss the existing challenges and exchange views, as well as develop the skills and knowledge of all employees and partners involved in the cruise sector in the country, both public and private. This initiative aims to ensure that the sector is ready to provide a distinguished tourism experience to visitors to Qatar as well as unifying efforts among all relevant authorities. Over the course of two days, the workshop brought together representatives from various relevant government and private entities, where the sessions included presentations on the most prominent trends and experiences of global tourist destinations in the field of cruises, identifying points that need to be developed, and proposing innovative initiatives and solutions to enhance the experience. Commenting on the workshop, Mr. Omar Abdulrahman Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, said: “The marine tourism sector is one of the vital pillars of Qatar Tourism’s strategy, due to its growing role in supporting the national economy and enhancing the country’s position as a global tourism destination in this industry and provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve excellence in service, ensuring an exceptional experience for visitors to QT.” Commenting on the workshop, Mr. Yousef Jaber Al Jaber, Director of Government Development Affairs at the Civil Service and Government Development …

DXC Technology and Carnival Cruise Line announced a multi-year agreement to power the cruise line’s technology infrastructure. This partnership will support Carnival’s guest experience across its global fleet, as well as its portside and shoreside operations. DXC will deliver reliable and scalable IT services designed to enhance operational efficiency, improve employee productivity and help ensure a seamless, connected experience for millions of guests sailing annually with Carnival. “At Carnival, we’re committed to delivering memorable vacations for our guests, and technology plays a vital role in ensuring they have the best onboard experience,” said Sean Kenny, senior vice president and chief information officer at Carnival Cruise Line. “The DXC team demonstrates exceptional technical expertise, responsiveness and a clear commitment to delivering on our long-term vision. With them as our trusted partner, we’re investing in technology that strengthens the foundation of our operations to provide a great experience for our guests across our 29 ships globally and supporting our dedicated team members both shipboard and shoreside.” Through the partnership, DXC will manage Carnival’s core IT infrastructure across all operational environments including shipboard systems, shoreside offices and port facilities. Using an employee-centric delivery model, DXC will ensure that the tools and services provided are tailored to support both Carnival’s workforce needs and a consistent guest experience. Services will include workplace support, IT service management, infrastructure operations and security risk management – all delivered with enhanced cybersecurity, expert-level staffing, automation support and a scalable model across its operations. This approach is built to improve resilience and ensure operational consistency across the company’s global footprint. “This collaboration with Carnival Cruise Line represents a significant milestone for DXC as we continue to expand our footprint in the …

According to statistics outlined by Tourism Economics (An Oxford Economics Company) at a recent cruise industry panel discussion, between 2019 and 2024, global deployment in the industry increased by 25%, with a further 5% expansion achieved in 2025 so far. In the Middle East the average number of cruise days spent in the region has increased by an impressive 125%. The Caribbean, Europe and Asia-Pacific lead in terms of cruise deployment. Angelo Capurro- Executive Director, MSC Group’s Cruise Division said: “Last year, we welcomed a record 150 different nationalities and saw a particular increase in passengers coming from central Asia, driven by increased connectivity and better access to visas, combined with the appeal of the Middle East as a travel destination.”

IDeaS’ Cruise Revenue Management System (RMS) uses advanced data analytics and automation to predict demand, execute dynamic revenue strategies, boost profitability and maintain a competitive edge for cruise operators. By embracing cutting-edge technology and data-driven strategies outlined in the eBook, cruise operators can optimize pricing and inventory management to increase profitability and outperform competitors. IDeaS announced its latest Lessons in Revenue eBook, “Data-Driven Revenue Management in the Cruise Industry: Navigating the Groundswell,” to help cruise organizations navigate today’s challenging operating environment while capitalizing on opportunities to optimize revenue.  The recent surge in cruise demand presents substantial opportunities for growth, yet cruise lines face significant challenges, including intensifying competition, labor shortages, inflated costs and delayed adoption of revenue technologies. The eBook highlights key capabilities and challenges facing cruise revenue leaders, and shares ways cruise organizations can leverage revenue management technology to maximize the potential of their voyages as they chart their course into the future. Crystal Pernici, global director – Cruise RMS, IDeaS, said: “Cruise operators are becoming increasingly aware of the potential—and the value—of revenue strategies guided by revenue optimization technology. By basing their decision-making on data-driven insights rather than personal experience or selective reporting, cruise leaders are opening up their vessels to a new range of revenue opportunities.”

AROYA Cruises began its journey to the Mediterranean ahead of the launch of its inaugural Mediterranean season on 28th June. The ship is scheduled to arrive in Galataport Istanbul, AROYA’s Mediterranean homeport, on 20th June via the popular Turkish coastal towns of Kaş and Bodrum. She will then undergo routine maintenance ahead of the first commercial sailing a week later. Until mid-September, AROYA will explore the wonders of the Eastern Med with six and seven-night voyages to ports in Turkey, Greece and Egypt, blending iconic destinations with the cruise line’s Arabian inspired experience. In addition to Kaş and Bodrum, AROYA will sail to Marmaris in Turkey as well as Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes and Souda Bay in Greece, and Alexandria in northern Egypt. Since its maiden voyage in December 2024, AROYA Cruises has completed a successful inaugural season in the Red Sea, welcoming more than 70,000 passengers aboard sailings that visited Egypt, Jordan and the Saudi Red Sea private island of Jabal AlSabaya for Saba Beach. The move to the Mediterranean marks a strategic next chapter for the AROYA Cruises as it expands its itineraries and brings a taste of Arabian culture and hospitality to Europe. Dr Joerg Rudolph, President of AROYA Cruises, commented: “We’re excited to be bringing AROYA to some of the Mediterranean’s most popular cruise destinations this summer. AROYA Cruises first set sail just six months ago and we’re incredibly proud of all we’ve achieved so far, with passenger numbers in the Red Sea exceeding expectations. We look forward to welcoming our valued guests aboard this season.”

The 2024/2025 cruise season witnessed  360,000 cruise visitors, reception of 87 ships, achieving a growth of 19% compared to the previous season, including 5 additional cruise ships that made their first trips to Doha Port, and 13 departure and return flights. Partial shift passengers – starting or ending their journey in Qatar – accounted for more than 10 per cent of total visitors, reflecting the country’s position as a major hub for cruise tourism in the region. Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar organized a closing event at Doha Old Port, celebrating the successes of the 2024/2025 cruise season, in recognition of partners and contributors in this vital sector. The event was attended by officials from Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar, as well as strategic partners from the public and private sectors in the marine tourism sector and media representatives. This honor comes in recognition of the fruitful cooperation between government agencies and private sector partners, which contributed to achieving an exceptional season that strengthened Qatar’s position as a prominent destination on the marine tourism map in the region and the world.. Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, said: “During the 2024/2025 cruise season, the focus was on targeting total and partial transformation flights, with Doha being the main destination for its flights in the region, with 13 full transformation flights and 43 partial transformation trips. This is only the beginning of further cooperation and strategic partnerships with international cruise ship operators. He added: “During this season, we were keen to provide an integrated experience for visitors, which began before their arrival at Doha Port by promoting Qatar as a distinctive destination for marine tourism, and continued …

AROYA Cruises announced the launch of its inaugural Mediterranean itineraries set to begin in June 2025. Homeported in Galataport Istanbul, AROYA will sail to some of the region’s most popular European cruise destinations, marking a major milestone in the cruise line’s growth and regional expansion. The new itineraries feature 7-night voyages to ports in Turkey and Greece, blending iconic destinations with AROYA’s Arabian inspired experience. Beginning on 21st June, AROYA will sail to Bodrum, Marmaris, Kaş and Kuşadası, followed by additional stops in Athens, Mykonos and Crete later that month. In July, the itineraries expand to include Rhodes and İzmir, with Fethiye added in August. One of the new itineraries will be dedicated entirely to Turkish coastal cities, offering guests an immersive experience along the country’s breathtaking shoreline. The remaining sailings will blend stops in both Turkey and Greece, with a particular emphasis on Bodrum and other iconic ports along the Turkish Riviera. Since its maiden voyage in December, AROYA Cruises has completed a successful inaugural season in the Red Sea, offering guests a Remarkably Arabian experience rooted in Saudi hospitality and the spirit of Hafawa. Onboard, guests can enjoy a wide range of world-class experiences, from a spacious main pool area and a theatre with nightly entertainment, to wellness facilities that include a snow room and advanced spa treatments. Designed with families in mind, the ship features a zip line, water slides and one of the largest kids’ zones at sea, while culinary enthusiasts can explore 12 restaurants and 17 lounges and cafes offering a curated selection of Saudi and international cuisine. For guests seeking added exclusivity, the Khuzama experience offers access to spacious suites, private dining and personalized butler …